New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-14
is BEHRLyG lea LAND-LOCKEDf
MR. BAYARD ADMITS HIS IGNORANCE.
WHILE HE AWAITS THE RESULT OF A SUIT HE
REI.EAsEs RRIIIsu sEAIERs.

WHILE HE AWAITS THE RESULT OF SUIT HE
RELEASES THE BRITISH sEALERs
WASHINGTON, May 13-It is said at tho Treasury
Department that there is lou ldaton for the report
that the revenue steamer Rush will shortly sail from
San Fraucisco for Sitka Alaska Tor the purpose OF
taking United States Marshal to Ounaaska to sell
at public auction the British vessels Onward and
Thornton, which we're seized last July for violating
the seal fishery laws In the first place. it is said that
the Rush is not going to Ska at ALL and ia the second
place the British vessels mentioned released by
this Government time ago. The Rush will
start on her usual sumner cruise in Northern
in about month, but get her orders have not been
prepared.
Inquiry at the Department of State regarding the
British vessels seized in Behring Sea last summer dis
closes the tact that demand has been made by
the British Government for the release OF the vessels
has any claim for damages caused by the seizures
been made upon the Government of the United States
The correspondence between the two Governments on
the subject was limited
1t opened with letter from the English Govern
ment recItng the fact Of the seizures and asking for
information relative TO the details This was received
in September last and Secretary Bayard Immediately
began an examination of the matter. 1t became
necessary to tho record Of tbs proceedings be-
fore the United States Court in Alaska which had
resulted in the condemnation OF the sealers and it
was not until the following February that this was
received at the department. careful examination
vas then made OF the law and of the Treaty OF
Cession by which the United States became possessed
OF Alaska which resulted in the order for the release
OF tho seized vessels The fact that the seaers had
been released communicated to the Britsh Gov
ernment and that was about all there was of the
correspondence the subject There had Deen no
occasion for this Government to make official
declaration OF the extent OF its jurisdiction the
waters of Behrng Sea The matter received q
caroful examination however and the details oi the
treaty and prior correspondence the general subject
OF marine jurisdiction studied. 1t found
that the boundary line between the Russian and the
Uped States possessions defined by treaty divided
| the waters OF Bchring Sea into two parts, which
would tend 20 negative the idea that it closed
sea.p as the term is commonly understood. This
Government had also resisted vigorously the claim OF
Russia TO Jurisdiction the Sea OF Ochatsk which
at the time was almost surrounded by Russian DOS
sessions and refused to acknowledge Russas claim to
Jurisdiction Behring Sea before the cessi0n OF
Alaska. In 1870 however Congress passed the laws
the protection OF the fisheries of Behrns Sea- and
by its decision sustaining the seizures the Alaskan
court appears TO have affirmed the jurisdiction thus
/ asserted.
Meanwhile before assuming q final stand on the
question Of jurisdiction the Department OF State Is
awaiting with interest the result OF tho suit for
So, 800 brought in Massachusetts against Captain
Abbey, OF the Corwin bv the OF the American
schooner Sierra which also seized Last summer
in Alaskan wateIs, distant thirty miles IRON the
nearest land.